Romeo and Juliet Balcony Scene Dialogue
ROMEO
What light through yonder window breaks?
Who, outside of the gloved hand, dares to caress his face?
JULIET
(talking to herself about Romeo)
Alas!
O Romeo, Romeo!
Why are you Romeo?
Deny your father and refuse your name.
And if you will, swear that you love me, and I’ll no longer be a Capulet.
ROMEO
Shall I continue listening, or shall I speak?
JULIET
Only your name is my enemy.
You are yourself, though not a Montague.
What’s Montague?
It is not a hand, nor a foot, nor an arm, nor a face, nor any other part belonging to a man.
Oh! Be some other name!
What’s in a name?
That which we call a rose by any other name would smell as sweet;
So Romeo would, were he not Romeo called, retain that dear perfection which he owes without that title.
Romeo, give up your name, and for that name, which is no part of you, take all myself.
ROMEO
I take you at your word. Call me but love, and I’ll be new baptized; henceforth I never will be Romeo.
JULIET
Who are you who, hidden in the night, thus stumbles on my counsel?
ROMEO
By a name I know not how to tell you who I am: my name, dear saint, is hateful to myself, because it is an enemy to you; had I it written, I would tear the word.
JULIET
Just my ears have not yet drunk a hundred words of your tongue’s uttering,
yet I know your voice.
Are you not Romeo Montague?
ROMEO
Neither, fair maiden, if either you dislike.
JULIET
How did you get here and why?
The garden walls are high and hard to climb,
and the place death, considering who you are,
if any of my kinsmen find you here.
ROMEO
I would not for the world they saw you here.
JULIET
By whose direction found you out this place?
ROMEO
By love, that first did prompt me to inquire; he lent me counsel and I lent him eyes.
JULIET
The mask of night is on my face;
else would a maiden blush bepaint my cheek for that which you have heard me speak tonight.
Fain would I dwell on form, fain, fain deny what I have spoke.
But farewell compliment! Do you love me?
I know you will say ‘Ay,’ and I will take your word;
but if you swear, you may prove false.
Oh, gentle Romeo!
If you do love, pronounce it faithfully:
Or if you think I am too quickly won,
I’ll frown and be perverse and say you nay, so you will woo.
But trust me, beautiful Montague, I love you so much!
You must think I am superficial; believe me,
I am more honest than those that have more cunning to be strange.
ROMEO
I swear by all the love in my heart…
Voices of the Nurse from within.
JULIET
I hear some noise within; dear love, adieu!
Sweet Montague, be true.
Stay but a little, I will come again.
ROMEO
Oh, blessed night! I am afeard, being in night, all this is but a dream, too flattering-sweet to be substantial.
Re-enter JULIET.
JULIET
Three words, dear Romeo, and then good night indeed.
If that your bent of love be honourable, your purpose marriage,
Send me word tomorrow by one that I’ll procure to come to you,
to say where and what time you will perform the rite.
And all my fortunes at your foot I’ll lay
And follow you my lord throughout the world.
Good night, a thousand times!
ROMEO
A thousand times the worse, to want your light.
JULIET
Romeo!
ROMEO
My dear?
JULIET
At what o’clock tomorrow shall I send to you?
ROMEO
At the hour of nine.
JULIET
I will not fail: ’tis twenty years till then.
You must leave. It’s already dawning.
Good night. Good night.
It’s such sweet sorrow of separation
that I will say good night till it be morrow.
Exeunt.